<p>I want to study plant biology in college. I'm very strong in math and science, and the only colleges that I really wouldn't want to go to are religious schools; even that isn't definite. My ultimate goal is to get into synthetic biology/genetic engineering. I very much do not work to work on animals, especially people. I think the hospital environment would be very stifling to me. Right now, I would love to work in a lab/do undergraduate research.
What are some of the pros and cons of sticking to general bio vs. botany/plant science as a major in undergrad?
Some companies that I've been talking to have been saying that academia is dying, and tenure track jobs just are too rare to get my hopes up for. Where outside of academia could I work with a botany/plant science degree, just for options if not anything else.
What colleges have a good botany department? I know the UC schools do, but I already have missed the application dates for those. I have applied for most every other school with a botany/plant science degree I could find, but what are the good ones?
Basically: help. If you have anything to say at all about jobs/botany/biology, please write it here. I don't like making decisions without a lot of data coming from several sources.</p>
<p>I’m a physics undergrad so I’m afraid that I can’t give much advice on plant sciences job prospects or pros and cons with a biology major but I do know my school (University of Missouri-Columbia) has a pretty strong plant sciences department. </p>
<p>Department website: [Plant</a> Sciences, University of Missouri](<a href=“http://plantsci.missouri.edu/]Plant”>http://plantsci.missouri.edu/)
Also, the biology department would be worth checking out.</p>
<p>They also have TONS of research opportunities in plant sciences. In fact, they have a special program for incoming freshman who are interested in plant sciences called FRIPS (Freshman Research in the Plant Sciences).</p>
<p>FRIPS: [Freshman</a> Research in Plant Sciences (FRIPS) | Undergraduate Research](<a href=“http://undergradresearch.missouri.edu/programs-jobs/programs/FRIPS.php]Freshman”>http://undergradresearch.missouri.edu/programs-jobs/programs/FRIPS.php)</p>
<p>Hope this helps and good luck :)</p>
<p>Thanks a ton! I’m going to look into this.</p>